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Watson turns down DC, Gillick to GM?

So the fat rumor today is that after Bob Watson turned down a chance to take the Expos job, Pat Gillick is now the leading candidate. It seems weird that instead of leaving a barren wasteland of a franchise, he’d be taking one over, but maybe guilt over his work with Toronto, Baltimore, et cetera finally overcame his reluctance to take such a difficult assignment.

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12 Responses to “Watson turns down DC, Gillick to GM?”

eponymous coward on
October 28th, 2004 4:02 pm

Well, they aren’t totally hosed. They might have enough money to be able to go after some decent FA’s by next year.

This offseason, though, they are likely SOL, since they won’t have ownership, and MLB isn’t about to let them open the checkbook.

Evan on
October 28th, 2004 4:02 pm

I don’t know why Gillick, or anyone, would want that job. You don’t even know where the team is playing next year as long as that suit from the former owners is still pending. And the team still doesn’t have an owner.

eponymous coward on
October 28th, 2004 4:18 pm

The fix is in. Worst case, the former owners get paid from sale proceeds, I bet.

chris w on
October 28th, 2004 4:51 pm

I actually think this is what Gillick is good at. He could probably turn this team into something good in just a few years (the Diamondbacks model). Of course, it would turn bad just as quickly and Gillick would leave.

Evan on
October 28th, 2004 5:11 pm

The former owners either have or are seeking an injunction to prevent the team from moving. They’d need to get paid before the season starts.

I’m really rooting for the former owners – I’d love to see Selig and Loria get hosed on this one.

stan on
October 28th, 2004 9:41 pm

Too bad Washington is in the National League. Give Pat the same amount of money as Billy and let them duke it out…. Perhaps they could schedule a Washington/Oakland world series in conjuction with the other one that is played in October.

msb on
October 29th, 2004 11:46 am

FWIW, the Washington Post had a note today re, Gillick:
“An industry source said yesterday that Pat Gillick, who served as a GM with Toronto, Baltimore and Seattle, almost certainly won’t be the Expos’ GM. Gillick has said in the last two weeks that he would like the job despite its tenuous nature. Several former general managers could be considered, including Dan Duquette, who ran the Expos and later the Red Sox; Jim Bowden, who served as GM of the Cincinnati Reds for more than 10 seasons; and former Los Angeles Dodgers GM Kevin Malone.”

stan on
October 29th, 2004 1:12 pm

Kevin Malone, now there is a pleasant thought…. No matter what faults Bavasi may have, I am just thankful that the Mariners did not hire Malone.

Metz on
October 29th, 2004 2:19 pm

I’d be really interested in seeing what Dan Duquette could do with a team if given a second chance.

Is there anyone Duquette didn’t manage to alienate while the Red Sox GM? He’s like Jim Bowden with a flamethrower.

Metz on
October 29th, 2004 2:42 pm

Nope, he pissed off just about everyone. Players, fans, ownership. He’s still a forward thinking GM though and I’d like to see if he learned any personality management lessons in Boston. Don’t forget about a third of the World Series team are guys he brought into the club. He’s really good at aquiring talent.

George Malatesta on
November 1st, 2004 1:51 pm

Pat Gillick is the guy to lead the Montreal/Washington franchise out of the wilderness. Kevin Malone is ignorant and has been MIA since the Dodgers jettisoned him years ago. Jim Bowden is making good coin on Cold Pizza for ESPN and could only stir the pot wrong in this case. Worst of all is Dan Duquette. This guy couldn’t be trusted to walk a dog either in the morning or at night. He’s annoyed all in his profession with his brooding. Gillick could get this organization turned around quickly and that would irk Peter Angelos of the Orioles to the Nth degree.